Flexible rack shelf

ABSTRACT

A flexible rack shelving system, the system comprising the A rack shelving system, the a rack shelf, wherein the rack shelf comprises: two vertical side walls, wherein each vertical side wall contains a plurality of apertures, and a base, wherein the base is pivotally mounted by at least one hinge to each of the two vertical side walls. The rack shelf further comprises a rack, wherein the rack shelf is placed inside the rack and attached by way of interlocking between protrusions in the rack and the plurality of apertures in the vertical side walls.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally concerns a rack shelf system. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a rack shelf withcollapsible side walls.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traditionally, rack shelves are rectangular and have a flat, thin sheetof a durable material as a base. On both sides of the base along thewidth of the shelf, a side wall is attached to the base. The side wallmay be integrated into the base such that the entire rack shelf iscontinuous material. Alternatively, the side walls may be welded to thebase. Each side wall generally has a number of holes or slots. The rackinto which the shelf is placed has protrusions on the inside of itswalls. Thus, when the shelf is inserted into the rack, the shelf willengage with the inside walls of the rack when the rack protrusionsinterlock with the holes or slots on the shelf side walls. This simpledesign is sturdy because the side walls are firmly connected to the baseof the shelf. Therefore, it can bear weight when placed inside the rack.However, this type of shelf can be costly and inefficient to ship,because the bulk of the base and the side shelves require a large box.

An improved design uses only one wall plate that consists of twovertical rails affixed to two horizontal rails to form a rectangularframe. The frame is hinged at the mid-point of each of the twohorizontal rails, which allows the frame to fold lengthwise. Thisfold-over frame design utilizes a solid rectangular frame, with fourrails as opposed to three rails, and therefore offers more stability formounting appliances to walls.

Designs that are pre-assembled (e.g., a fold-over design) are lesscomplicated for users because they do not require assembly and theyoffer more stability. However, the pre-assembled design is moredifficult and expensive to ship due to its size, which is typicallylarger than the traditional disassembled mounting frame design.

There is a need for a mounting frame apparatus and mounting system thatis stable, user-friendly, and compact.

SUMMARY OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION

A flexible rack shelf is also disclosed. The rack shelf has two sidesand a base. Both the sides and the base have a number of perforations orholes in them through which a screw or other hanger can fit. The baseand the sides are connected by a hinge (or hinges). The hinged sidesallow the sides to lay flat against the base when the rack is not inuse, which makes shipping the rack shelf more efficient and lessexpensive.

A flexible rack shelving system is also disclosed. The system utilizes arack shelf that has two sides and a base. Both the sides and the basehave a number of perforations or holes in them through which a screw orother hanger can fit. The base and the sides are connected by a hinge(or hinges). The rack shelving system also includes a rack. The rackshelf is placed inside the rack. To attach the rack shelf to the rack,screws or other hangers on the insides of the rack are placed throughthe holes of the rack shelf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary flexible rack shelf.

FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary side wall of a flexible rack shelf.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a flexible rack shelf thatmay be mounted to a rack. Persons of ordinary skill in the art willrealize that the following description of the presently invention isillustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of theinvention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of aflexible rack shelf, a shelf base 105 is coupled to vertical sideshelves, one of which is labeled 110. Each side shelf 110 has aplurality of apertures, one of which is labeled 115. The vertical sideshelves are collapsible in a fold-over fashion, such that the insides ofvertical side shelves 110 lay flat against the top of shelf base 105.Each of the vertical side walls 110 is pivotally mounted along the widthof shelf base 105. Each vertical side shelf is hinged at its midpoint bya connector, one of which is labeled 120. The connector 120 may includeany type of hinge, including by way of example and not limitation, alaptop hinge, a butterfly hinge, a barrel hinge, or a flush hinge.

When the flexible rack shelf is fully assembled, it attaches to a rack(not shown) by outwardly extending L-shaped wings, one of which islabeled 125, that run along the length of each vertical side wall 110.Each wing has at least one aperture, one of which is labeled 130, thatmay be used to connect to a protruding object on a rack. Additionally,each L-shaped wing 125 has an aperture 135 on the end of the horizontalportion of the L-shape. The aperture 135 may line up with an aperture ofthe base 105 and be secured to the base 105 by using, for example, anail or a screw.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a support mechanismcomprises a horizontal bar 140 that has two downward-facing arms, one ofwhich is labeled 145. Each arm 145 has a knob, one of which is labeled150, that may be placed through one of the apertures 115 in verticalside wall 110. Once a knob 150 is placed through an aperture 115 of eachof the side walls 110, the side walls 110 are reinforced, making theentire assembly more rigid and, thus, less likely to collapse whenobjects are placed on the shelf.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, illustrating an exemplary side wall of aflexible rack shelf, vertical side wall 110 of FIG. 1A may additionallycontain one or more cut-out tabs, one of which is labeled 155. A usermay push the cut-out tab 155 inward from side wall 110 horizontallyuntil the broad side of the tab interfaces with base 105. Thus, thecut-out tab 155 can be used as an additional hinge between side wall 110and base 105.

The above description is illustrative and not restrictive. Manyvariations of the invention will become apparent to those of skill inthe art upon review of this disclosure. While the present invention hasbeen described in connection with a variety of embodiments, thesedescriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to theparticular forms set forth herein. To the contrary, the presentdescriptions are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, andequivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claim and otherwise appreciated byone of ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rack shelving system, the system comprising: a rack shelf, wherein the rack shelf comprises: two vertical side walls, wherein each vertical side wall contains a plurality of apertures, and a base, wherein the base is pivotally mounted by at least one hinge to each of the two vertical side walls; and a rack, wherein the rack shelf is placed inside the rack and attached by way of interlocking between protrusions in the rack and the plurality of apertures in the vertical side walls.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a support beam, the support beam attached to each of the vertical side walls.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the two vertical side walls contain at least one cut-out tab that forms an additional hinge between the two vertical side walls and the base.
 4. A rack shelf, the rack shelf comprising: two vertical side walls, wherein each vertical side wall contains a plurality of apertures, and a base, wherein the base is pivotally mounted by at least one hinge to each of the two vertical side walls.
 5. The rack shelf of claim 4, further comprising a support beam, the support beam attached to each of the vertical side walls.
 6. The rack shelf of claim 4, wherein the two vertical side walls contain at least one cut-out tab that forms an additional hinge between the two vertical side walls and the base.
 7. The rack shelf of claim 4, wherein the at least one hinge includes a laptop hinge.
 8. The rack shelf of claim 4, wherein the at least one hinge includes a butterfly hinge.
 9. The rack shelf of claim 4, wherein the at least one hinge includes a flush hinge.
 10. The rack shelf of claim 4, wherein the at least one hinge includes a barrel hinge. 